STEPHEN O'NEILL will captain the Tyrone footballers for the 2012 campaign, it has been confirmed.

Mickey Harte rotated the captaincy for the duration of the Red Hands' successful McKenna Cup campaign but has settled on O'Neill, who led the team in last Saturday's win over Kildare at Croke Park. O'Neill succeeds his retired Clan na nGael clubmate Brian Dooher.

Meanwhile, Jimmy Barry-Murphy has rung the changes from the side that enjoyed a comfortable win over Kerry last weekend for Sunday's Waterford Crystal Cup clash with Tipperary.

Martin Coleman replaces Anthony Nash in goal, while Brian Murphy comes in for Damien Cahalane in the full-back line and John Gardiner replaces Tom Kenny. Pa Cronin shifts to midfield, with Niall McCarthy also handed a start at centre-forward.

Donegal manager Jim McGuinness has promised to give youth a fling this year after another of last year's minors made his league debut at the weekend.

impact

The versatile Martin O'Reilly made a big impact after being introduced at the interval against Down at Pairc Esler and after the success of Patrick McBrearty last summer, McGuinness is pleased with what he sees coming through.

O'Reilly, who played minor with McBrearty last year, will only be 19 next month but he slotted in extremely well as Donegal hit the front in the third quarter before going down 1-10 to 1-9.

O'Reilly, a member of the Sean MacCumhaills club in Ballybofey, is also on the Donegal U-21 hurling team and isstudying to be a teacher at Marino College in Dublin.

"Martin was a big, big plus. His decision making is very good; he has two good feet and two good hands. He definitely adds a lot of value," said McGuinness.

The Dubai Celts GAA club will host the 'Dubai Duty Free Gulf Gaelic Games' football and hurling Sevens tournament for the sixth successive year next month.

Over 600 players from the likes of UAE, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, India, the UK and South Africa will take part in 100 games that will be played at the Emirates 7s Sports complex on Friday, March 23.

Ahead of the AIB All-Ireland club SHC semi-finals this weekend, the Provincial Players Award winners have been announced, with Cathal Parlon (Coolderry), Shane Dowling (Na Piarsaigh) and Joey Scullion (Loughgiel Shamrocks) all honoured for the first time.